Cornwall, Summerside doing battle in tackle football finals on Friday

None

Cornwall will try to dethrone the champs from Summerside in the Papa John’s P.E.I. Tackle Football League finals Friday in Charlottetown.

The Summerside Spartans and Cornwall Timberwolves will meet at 6 p.m. in the Ed Hilton Bowl to determine bantam supremacy while the Summerside Cooke Clippers and Cornwall Timberwolves play at 8 p.m. in the Potato Bowl to decide a varsity champ.

Timberwolves manager Chris O’Rourke said the bantam squad, which went 4-2 during the regular season, is a product of a development program it started three years ago.

“The bantam coaches have got these players executing the fundamentals brilliantly, and that is what you need at this level: brilliance at the basics,” he said.

Safety and receiver Joseph Bertram and running back Austin Carter are a couple of players to keep an eye on.

The John Turner-coached Spartans, which went 6-0 in the regular season, are led by a number of talented players.

Linebacker Brayden Lawless can go sideline-to-sideline to shut down the opposing team’s running game. Quarterback Luke Payne has improved each week and is throwing the ball well for an explosive offence. He will count on the running ability of Ethan Lawless to move the chains and set up the passing game.

Varsity

The Clippers went 6-0 during the regular season and defeated the Charlottetown Privateers to advance to the Potato Bowl. They are looking to repeat as champs and add to the Summerside football program, which has become a benchmark for other clubs.

Quarterback Camren Gavin and middle linebacker Jon Rose lead the Clippers. Gavin threw 22 touchdown passes with no interceptions this season while Rose is good in pass coverage and has the ability to shut down the run.

“Both are Grade 12 students and are great leaders on our varsity Clippers team,” said Turner, who also coaches the Clippers.

It has been a few years since the Wolves have been in the Potato Bowl, but a win in Souris during the weekend has the Richard Lush-coached Cornwall team, which went 2-4 in the regular season, ready to meet a dominant Summerside squad.

“To reach the championship game in his first year as head coach with 15 rookies on a roster of 25 players is a testament to Richard’s natural leadership abilities,” O’Rourke said. “His infectious positive attitude made these kids believe anything is possible as long as they stick together. They trust him, they trust his system and now the sky is the limit for this team.”

Quarterback Lucas Banman and running back Joey Murphy lead the Wolves.

Cornwall will try to dethrone the champs from Summerside in the Papa John’s P.E.I. Tackle Football League finals Friday in Charlottetown.

The Summerside Spartans and Cornwall Timberwolves will meet at 6 p.m. in the Ed Hilton Bowl to determine bantam supremacy while the Summerside Cooke Clippers and Cornwall Timberwolves play at 8 p.m. in the Potato Bowl to decide a varsity champ.

Timberwolves manager Chris O’Rourke said the bantam squad, which went 4-2 during the regular season, is a product of a development program it started three years ago.

“The bantam coaches have got these players executing the fundamentals brilliantly, and that is what you need at this level: brilliance at the basics,” he said.

Safety and receiver Joseph Bertram and running back Austin Carter are a couple of players to keep an eye on.

The John Turner-coached Spartans, which went 6-0 in the regular season, are led by a number of talented players.

Linebacker Brayden Lawless can go sideline-to-sideline to shut down the opposing team’s running game. Quarterback Luke Payne has improved each week and is throwing the ball well for an explosive offence. He will count on the running ability of Ethan Lawless to move the chains and set up the passing game.

Varsity

The Clippers went 6-0 during the regular season and defeated the Charlottetown Privateers to advance to the Potato Bowl. They are looking to repeat as champs and add to the Summerside football program, which has become a benchmark for other clubs.

Quarterback Camren Gavin and middle linebacker Jon Rose lead the Clippers. Gavin threw 22 touchdown passes with no interceptions this season while Rose is good in pass coverage and has the ability to shut down the run.

“Both are Grade 12 students and are great leaders on our varsity Clippers team,” said Turner, who also coaches the Clippers.

It has been a few years since the Wolves have been in the Potato Bowl, but a win in Souris during the weekend has the Richard Lush-coached Cornwall team, which went 2-4 in the regular season, ready to meet a dominant Summerside squad.

“To reach the championship game in his first year as head coach with 15 rookies on a roster of 25 players is a testament to Richard’s natural leadership abilities,” O’Rourke said. “His infectious positive attitude made these kids believe anything is possible as long as they stick together. They trust him, they trust his system and now the sky is the limit for this team.”

Quarterback Lucas Banman and running back Joey Murphy lead the Wolves.

Past champs

A look at the P.E.I. tackle football champs since 2010

Bantam

2015 – Summerside Waterwise Spartans

2014 – Summerside Waterwise Spartans

2013 – Summerside Spartans

2012 – Charlottetown Privateers

2011 – Summerside Spartans

2010 – Cornwall Timberwolves

Varsity

2015 – Summerside Clippers

2014 – Charlottetown Privateers

2013 – Souris Wildcats

2012 – Souris Wildcats

2011 – Souris Wildcats

2010 – Souris Wildcats

Schedule

The Papa John’s P.E.I. Tackle Football League finals will take place Friday at UPEI. Here is the schedule: